TK Events San Diego Travel Guide: Top Restaurants & Must See Spots
Hot Tips from TK Events Travels
NEW SERIES ALERT!
One of the perks of our jobs is the opportunity to travel and experience so many fabulous destinations. If you ask anyone on our team - they'll tell you that's one of the reaons they love working at TK Events - the clients projects, and the travel that goes with it.
Over the years we've honed a fantastic list of must see, must do, simply must have favorite restaurants. And we are here to share them with you on the regular and would love to get your favorites/comments too.
To kick-off our series - our first stop is San Diego simply because it is hands down my favourite city in the US.
Local Experiences
We're going to start with what you need to experience. And that is a day trip to La Jolla. It is a great beachfront town for sightseeing, shopping and dining. A 20 min drive up the highway from the city of San Diego lands you in seaside heaven. You can ask your driver to let you out, or park at the waterfront cove and feast your eyes on the seals sun bathing on the rocks. There's plenty to do if you're up for a guided kayak tour or simply be a beachcomber.
We stopped at La Valencia Hotel and had a drink in their lobby bar facing the ocean. Get a spot by the window and soak up the views.
In the evening: Go to George’s at the Cove to watch the sunset into the ocean, plus the drinks are pretty delicious too! Finish your evening with dinner overlooking the cove.
Our Top Restaurant Picks:
Our sales rep at Hyatt hotel recommended Cowboy Star steakhouse and let me tell you - if steak is your 'go to' experience this restaurant is for you. Side note, the year I was there it was heavy on the bro's - think our group was the one women-only table.
On the outskirts of Little Italy, a restaurant envisioned in an abandoned warehouse with an open kitchen lies Juniper and Ivy. Check them out along with all their award accolades - they are a not to be missed experience and one we would highly recommend for small groups or executive dinners -- options include private dining room, semi-private cubes or covered patio.
Let's just say you can't visit San Diego and not go to Little Italy:
Our top choice: Bencotto Italian Kitchen consistently named one of the top Italian Restaurants in San Diego, also with multiple awards. Private event space options abound here too. Homestyle cooking and house made pasta make Bencotto a truly Italian experience.
In 2023 the restaurant was purchased by the GBOD Hospitality Group collection - with other restaurants and venues including Gaslamp Quarter hot spots Mezé Greek Fusion, El Chingon, Prohibition Lounge and Havana 1920.
Gaslamp in general is a place to see/spend an evening for shopping, restaurants and nightlife.
After dinner at Bencotto stop by the cutest little wine bar next door - M Winehouse - we drank wine, played board games and generally were just happy to unwind after a busy event week!
San Diego Waterfront:
Our event teams in general love simply walking the boardwalk outside the waterfront hotels. Not to mention the amazing event we had the pleasure to plan for a client on board the USS Midway, one of the 20th century's longest-serving aircraft carriers.
Need a taco and margherita fix? There may have been a pit stop (or two or three) at Puesto. This might also have been the beginning of our taco love affair.
Others on our list of recommendations (not tried - but recommended):
https://www.civico1845.com/menu
https://www.herbandwood.com/dinner
In all cases - we advise you plan ahead and make reservations.
